Memphis forward seems like ideal Houston trade target, but asking price is high

MONDAY, MAY 19, 2008 4:42 AM CST

By Clutch

Copyright 2008 ClutchFans.net

If you've been watching the NBA playoffs, you probably can't help but feel the Memphis Grizzlies deserve some type of award for the mind-boggling trade that handed Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The one-sided swap significantly changed the Western Conference landscape and exposed Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley as a penny-pincher looking to dump salary.

So it was only natural to assume that Grizzlies forward Mike Miller, who makes over $9 million in each of the next two seasons, would be next. Throw in a few expiring contracts with a dash of draft picks or younger players and voila! -- you have a recipe for a deal.

Not exactly, says one source. Memphis brass is feeling the criticism from the Gasol trade fallout and is responding by placing a very high asking price on Miller.

How high?

According to the source, the Grizzlies were asking for a package deal from Houston that included Luis Scola and it's believed that their asking price hasn't changed.

That certainly puts into perspective some comments made by Rockets general manager Daryl Morey back at the trading deadline about a Houston pursuit of Memphis' Miller and Sacramento's Ron Artest.

"They were asking for more than a bag of beans," said Morey back in late February. "They were highly motivated to get what they wanted and we did look at them but it didn't make sense for us. Obviously their price was too high because no one paid it."

The 6-foot-8 Miller can play minutes at both the two and three and averaged over 16 points and nearly 7 boards this season, hitting over 50% from the floor and 43.2% from downtown. After watching the impact that the addition of Kyle Korver had on the Utah Jazz, you could see how the addition of a top notch shooter like Miller would be a big Rocket boost.